Eye protector



Sept. l, 1942. D. E; KIMBALL EYE PROTECTOR Filed May 27,A 19:59

Donald L`Kmbq.

`being curved to iit the face of the user.

Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES Aralar OFFICE EYE PROTECTOR DonaldE. Kimball, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 27, 1939, Serial No. 276,195

8 Claims.

This invention relates to eye protectors, more particularly to gogglesof the type employed by mechanics, machinists, and others when workingwith welding torches, abrading wheels, and the like, and has for aprincipal object the provision of a new and improved adjustablenose-piece construction for goggles.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for Eyeprotectors, filed August 31, 1938, Serial Number 227,735.

In the drawing accompanying this specication and forming a part of thisapplication, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, embodimentswhich my invention may assume, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention, a portionof the head band being broken away to better accommodate the View to thesheet,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of thenose-piece construction,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion ofthe eye-cup construction disclosed in Figure 2,

' Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing another embodiment ofthe nose-piece holding means,

Figure 5 is a view'similar to Figure 2, showing still another embodimentof the invention,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective View of a portion ofthe eye-cup construction disclosed in Figure 5,

Figure '7 is an enlarged, broken, top face View of a fragment of one ofthe goggle cups, disclosing yet another embodiment of the invention,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line 8--8 of Figure 7, while Figure 9 is afragmentary, exploded view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring rst to Figures 1 through 3, of the drawing, the eye protectorscomprise a pair of eye-cups I and II of identical construction, exceptfor their opposite disposition. Each of the eye-cups I and II ispreferably molded from a suitable moldable composition, and comprises asubstantially circular section I2, circumferentially threaded on theexterior, as at I3, and integrally formed with a rear section I4, thelatter rear section I4 of each of the eye-cups Il) and II merges into atemporal portion I of greater length than the nose portion, indicated atI6, and is outwardly flared, as at I1, and to the ends of the temporalportions I5, a head band I8 is COI!- 55 nected, only a fragment of thehead band I8 being shown. Threaded onto the threaded section I3, is abezel I9, having a, shoulder 20, against which is adapted to rest, aglass disc 2|, a lens proper 22 being adapted to rest against the disc2I, both the disc 2I and lens 22 being adapted to be clamped between theouter edge 23 of the eye-cup and the shoulder 20 of the bezel when thebezel is screwed home.

The eye-cups I0 and II are secured together by a nose-piece 24, whichcomprises a chain member 25, covered by a piece of rubber tubing 26, thechain member being made up of a series of spaced balls 21, swiveled ontoconnecting bars 28, each end of the chain member being adapted to beconnected to its related cup at the nose portion I6. For this purposethe nose portion I6 is provided with a slot 29 extending transverselyacross the edge 30 of the threaded circular section I2, and extendinginwardly from the edge 30 a suitable distance, the nose portion I6 beingcut out at opposite sides to form substantially half-round, oppositelydisposed grooves 3l, communicating with the slot 29, the cross-sectionalcontours of the grooves 3| corresponding substantially to the sphericalcontour of each of the balls 21 of the chain 25, while the distancebetween the defining walls of the grooves 3| is the same, or veryslightly less than the length of the bars 28, or the distance betweenadjacent surfaces of the balls 21.

Because of the relative proportions of the balls 21, bars 28, andcontours of the grooves 3|, when the bezel I9 has been removed, and abar 28 nserted into the slot 29, and adjacent balls 21 into the grooves3|, the chain is frictionally held in the slot 29 and grooves 3|, sothat it requires some little force to remove the same. Thisfeature is ofadvantage in that even with the bezel I9 removed, as when cleaning thelenses, the chain 25 will not readily be disconnected, or the adjustmentdisturbed, but the chain will remain in place unless forced out of theslot 29 to change the adjustment. Of course when the bezel I9 is screwedon it prevents retraction of the chain 25 from the slot 29 should thechain be subjected to forces sufficient to overcome the frictionalresistance already referred to.

In Figure 4, all parts of the construction, with .the exception ofadditional parts now to be described, are the same as those shown inFigures l, 2, and 3, and will be designated by the same referencecharacters. In this construction, however, instead of at some timerelying upon the bezel I9, or solely upon frictional holding when thebezel is removed, to prevent unintentional detachment of the chain 25,positive lock means 32 are provided, which hold the chain 25 in positionat all times independently of the bezel I9 and the frictional holdingheretofore mentioned. The lock means preferably take the form of asleeve 33 having one end split, as at 34, and its opposite end providedwith a shoulder 35 and, outwardly of .the shoulder 35, with a flat head35, the sleeve 33 being adapted to be forced into a bore or socket 31,which at right angles intersects the slot 29, the socket 31 preferablyopening at the inner side of the nose portion, as shown, to permitinsertion and retraction of the sleeve from the inner side of the noseportion.

When the sleeve 33 is in position, by reason ofV its split nature, itwill be held frictionally against accidental retraction, and overlie thechain 25 to prevent its removal from the slot 29 until the sleeve 33 hasbeen removed. The Sleeve 33 may readily be removed by inserting thefinger nail or some suitable instrument under the flat head 36, andprying the same from the socket 31, thereby releasing the chain 25 foradjusting movement.

In Figures and 6, an embodiment similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2,and 3 is disclosed, and like "parts of the two constructions will beindicated by the same reference characters used in connection withFigures l, 2, and 3. In this embodiment, the section 45 of the noseportion I6, inwardly of the threaded section 4I, is of lesscross-sectional thickness than the threaded section 4I, while the noseportion I5 adjacent the inner extremity of the threaded section 4 I, isprovided with a circumferential rib 42, preferably taking the form of anextension on the innermost thread of the threaded section 4 I, and whichprojects radially outwardly beyond the remaining threads 43. The rib 42is intersected by the grooves 44 and slot 45 similar to the grooves 3Iand slot 2S already described in connection with Figures 1, 2, and 3,the grooves 44 preferably being made somewhat deeper than the grooves 3|so that the balls 21 do not fit so tightly. Y In this construction,whenY a b-ar 28 of the chain member 25 is inserted into the slot 45, theballs 21 somewhat loosely enter the grooves 44, and when 4the chain ispressed inwardly, the balls 21Y encounter the rib 42 and are forcedtherepast by the application of considerable force, snapping over thesame to a position in the bottom portion of the slot 45, and the balls21 at opposite sides of the section 40, may loosely tilt with respect tothe section 49, sorthat normally there vis no tendency for the sameunintentionally to pass outwardly of the rib 42. In fact in order toremover the chain member from the slot 45 it is necessary to line up theballs 21 and connecting bar 28 so that they lie substantially at rightangles to the opposite side walls of the section 40 and 'to the definingwalls of the grooves 44, before the chain member may readily be snappedoutwardly over the rib 42, and the chain member removed for purposes ofadjustment, The holding means for the chain member therefore operateindependently of the bezel I9 and securely, though detachablyhold thechain member in position when the bezel I9 is removed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures '7 and 8, many ofthe parts are similar to those described in connection with Figures l,2, and 3, and will be designated by similar reference characters. Thenose portion 45 of this construction, however, is made somewhat thicker,preferably being bulged inwardly, as at 41, to

provide additional thickness, and centrally of the edge surface,transversely in line with the bulged portion a socket 48 is providedwhich extends inwardly a suitable distance, the socket 48 communicatingwith oppositely disposed trans- Versely extending slots 49. The bottomof the socket 43 is further preferably provided with a threaded recessfor the reception of a threaded stud 59, formed on the bottom of a cup5I, inserted into the socket 48, the cup being slightly reduced indiameter toward its outer end as at 52, and extending outwardly to apoint substantially flush with the entrance to the socket 48, thereduced portion 5'2 being split at opposite sides, as at 53, in linewith the slots 49, the cup 5I being constructed of spi'ingy metal sothat the splits 53 normally are sprung substantially closed.

In this construction, a ball 21 is adapted to enter the cup 5I, the bars28 being pressed into the splits 53, and passed `through the slots 49,the split reduced section frictionally holding the bars 28, and the ball21, and of course the chain member 25, against unintentional retraction,when the bezel I9 is not in position.

In Figure 9, there is disclosed an embodiment of the invention operableto provide a continuous surface along the edge of the eye-cup, eventhough holding means of the character heretofore set forth are employed.The nose-portion I6 is provided with grooves 54 'and a connecting slot55 as before described, but in this case the outer edge of the eye-cupis cut out, as at 56, for the reception of a plug or covermember 51,having a fiat body portion 58 shaped to fit flush into the recess 5G,and having curved spring prongs 59 adapted to fit into the grooves 54and frictionally hold the cover member in position, the cover member ofcourse acting as a locking member to hold the chain member in positionwhen the bezel is removed, but being detachable to permit adjustments tobe made.

It will be apparent t0 those skilled in the art that I have accomplishedat least the principal object of my invention, and it also will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments hereindescribed may be variously changed and modified, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of usesand has advantages not herein specifically described; hence i t will beappreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only,and that my invention is notv limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Eye protecting fastening means, comprising: a pair of eye protectingmeans; nose bridge means for flexibly connecting the eye protectingmeans together; at least one of said protecting means being in the formof a cup-shaped member having a slot therein for the reception of saidnose bridge means, said member between the ends of said slot and for arelatively short distance therealong being provided with an enlargement,said nose bridge means having abutments and connecting links betweensaid abutments, said links each being spaced apart a distance slightlyless than the lateral thickness of said member at said enlargement,whereby movement of one of said links past said enlargement necessitatesforcing said spaced abutments therepast to hold the nose bridge meansagainst accidental detachment.

2. Eye protecting fastening means, comprising: a pair of eye protectingmeans; nose bridge means for flexibly connecting the eye protectingmeans together; at least one of said protecting means being lin the formof a cup-shaped member having a thread thereon, and having a slottherein for the reception of said nose bridge means, said member betweenthe ends of said slot and for a relatively short distance therealongbeing provided with an enlargement formed by a portion of said thread;said nose bridge means having abutments and connecting links betweensaid abutments, and said links each being spaced apart a distanceslightly less than the lateral thickness of said member at saidenlargement, whereby movement of one of said links past said enlargementnecessitates forcing said spaced abutments therepast to hold the nosebridge means against accidental detachment.

3. Eye protector fastening means, comprising in combination with a pairof eye protecting means, nose bridge means for flexibly connecting saideye protecting means, said nose bridge means including ball means spacedapart a predetermined distance, and link means between said ball means;at least one of said eye protecting means being in the form of acup-shaped member having a tubular part for the threaded reception of alens holding bezel, the wall of said tubular part in cross-sectionalthickness being substantially greater than the, distance between saidball means, and having a recess for the adjustable recep-tion of saidnose bridge means, said recess opening through the outer edge of said 'Jtubular part, and extending inwardly from said edge, the walls of saidtubular part at opposite sides of said recess being cut out to formgrooves communicating with said recess, said grooves being oppositelydisposed and substantially halfround in cross-section, and adapted toprovide room for spaced adjacent balls and to permit entry of theconnecting link between said balls into said recess.

4. Eye protector fastening means, comprising in combination with a pairof eye protecting means, nose bridge means for flexibly connecting saideye protecting means, said nose bridge means including ball means spacedapart a predetermined distance, and link means between said ball means;at least one of said eye protecting means being in the form of acup-shaped member having a tubular section for the threaded reception ofa lens holding bezel, the wall of said tubular part in cross-sectionalthickness being substantially greater than the distance between saidball means and having an external thread molded thereon for threadedreception of said bezel, said molded thread terminating short of theopposite end of said tubular part, the latter having a recess for theadjustable reception of said nose bridge means, said recess openingthrough the outer edge of said tubular section, and extending inwardlyfrom said edge and past the threaded portion, the Walls of said tubularpart at opposite sides of said recess being cut out to form groovesinterrupting said molded thread and communicating with said recess, saidgrooves being oppositely disposed and substantially halfround incross-section, said recess and said grooves terminating inwardly of saidthreaded portion, said grooves being adapted to provide room for spacedadjacent balls and to permit entry of the connecting link between saidballs into said recess.

5. Eye protective fastening means, comprising in combination with a pairof eye protecting means, nose bridge means for flexibly connecting theeye protecting means together, including spaced abutments withconnecting means therebetween, at least one of said protecting meansbeing in tubular form having an outer end portion somewhat thicker incross-section than an adjacent inner portion thereof, said outer portionhaving a recess extendingtherethrough and into said inner portion, forthe detachable reception of the connecting means of said bridge means,the opposed walls defining said outer portion being spaced apartsubstantially the normal maximum distance between said abutments,whereby to operably enter and leave said recess the abutments andconnecting means of said bridge means must lie in a plane substantiallyat right angles to said opposed walls, being loosely shiftable in therecess of said inner portion;- land non-removable from said innerportion recess until lined up substantially at right angles to the saidopposed walls of said outer portion.

6. Eye protective fastening means, comprising in combination with a pairof eye protecting means, nose bridge means for flexibly connecting theeye protecting means together, including spaced abutments withconnecting means therebetween, at least one of said protecting meansbeing in tubular form having an outer end portion somewhat thicker incross-section than an adjacent inner portion thereof, said outer portionhaving a recess extending therethrough and a continuation of said recessextending into said inner portion, said recess and continuation beingadapted to have the connecting means of said bridge means enter throughsaid recess and enter the continuation thereof; the opposed wallsdefining the recess of said outer portion being spaced apartsubstantially the normal maximum distance between said abutments exceptfor a relatively short distance between the ends of the recess andcontinuation having at this point an enlargement slightly greater thanthe distance between the abutments of said nose bridge means, while thewalls dening the continuation of said recess are spaced a less distanceapart, said nose bridge means being loosely shiftable when in thecontinuation of said recess, and non-removable from said continuationuntil lined up substantially at right angles to the opposed walls of therecess of said outer portion and forced past said enlargement.

7. Eye protector fastening means, comprising; a pair of eye protectingmeans; nose bridge means for connecting said eye protecting means, saidnose bridge means including spaced ball means, and link means betweensaid ball means: at least one of said eye protecting means being in theform of a cup-shaped member having a tubular section for the threadedreception of a lens holding bezel, and a lens holding bezel detachablyengageable with said tubular section; said tubular section having arecess for the adjustable reception of said nose bridge means, saidrecess opening through the outer edge of said tubular section, andextending inwardly from said edge, the dening walls of said recess andsaid nose bridge means being constructed and proportioned to interengagesnugly, and thereby effect frictional resistance to accidental-disconnection of said nose bridge means when said lens holding bezel isremoved from said tubular section; and detachable locking means forpreventing removal should said friction holding means be accidentallyovercome.

8. Eye protector fastening means, comprising in combination with a pairof eye protecting means, nose bridge means for flexibly connecting saideye protecting means, said nose bridge means including ball means spacedapart a predetermined distance, an-d link means between said ball means;at least one of said eye protecting means being in the form of acup-shaped member of inoldable material having a tubular 5 part for thethreaded reception of a lens holding bezel, the dening wall of saidtubular part being integrally formed, and having a cross-sectionalthickness substantially in excess of the distance between said ballmeans, and having a recess 10 DONALD E. KIMBALL.

